RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

Chapter # 1

BACKGROUND

The Right to Information Act 2005 provides effective access to information for citizens of India, which is under the control of the public authorities. It promotes transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. It extends to the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Government of India resolved that in order to ensure greater and more effective access to information, it is required that the Freedom of Information Act2002 must be made more progressive, participatory and meaningful. On this issue National Advisory Council suggested certain important changes to be incorporated in the said Act to ensure smoother and greater access to information. After examining the suggestions of the National Advisory Council and others the Government decided to make number of changes in the law. In view of the significant changes proposed by the National Advisory Council and others, it was decided to repeal the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 and enact another law for providing an effective framework for effectuating the right of information recognized under Article 19 of the Constitution of India. To achieve this object, the Right to Information Bill was introduced in the Parliament.

The Right to Information Bill, 2005 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 11th May, 2005 and by the Rajya Sabha on 12th May, 2005 and it received the assent on 15th June, 2005. It came on the Statute Book as THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 (22 of 2005).

OBJECTIVE

In order to ensure greater and more effective access to information, the Government resolved that the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 enacted by the Parliament needs to be made more progressive, participatory and meaningful. The National Advisory Council deliberated on the issue and suggested certain important changes to be incorporated in the existing Act to ensure smoother and greater access to information. The examined the and others and

After examining the suggestions made by the National Advisory Council, the Government decided to make a number of changes in the law. The important changes proposed to be incorporated, inter alia, include establishment of an appellate machinery with investigating powers to review decisions of the Public Information Officers; penal provisions for failure to provide information as per law; provisions to ensure maximum disclosure and minimum exemptions, consistent with the constitutional provisions, and effective mechanism for access to information and disclosure by authorities, etc.

INTENDED USERS OF THE INFORMATION

The information provided in the following pages is meant for general public interested in the field of Instrumentation – recent developments and its status at one of the most important custodian laboratory of India.

ORGANIZATION OF THE INFORMATIONOrganization of the information in the following pages has been made under the following headings:

Particulars of organization, functions and duties

Powers and duties of officers and employees

Particulars of any arrangements that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof

A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control

A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies constituted as its part

The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers

Procedure followed in Decision Making Process

Directory of officers and employees

Scientific Staff

Technical Staff

Administrative Staff

The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in regulations

The budget allocated to each agency

The manner of execution of subsidy programmes

Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it

Norms set by it for discharge of functions

Information available in an electronic form

Particulars of the facilities available to citizens for obtaining information

DEFINITIONS

“Information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advises, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force"

“Record” includes-

Any document, manuscript and file;

Any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of a document;

Any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or not).